VCK has not officially left DMK alliance, says Thol Thirumavalavan amid row
VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said his party had not "officially" severed its alliance with the DMK, even as he launched a sharp attack
VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan on Thursday said his party had not "officially" severed its alliance with the DMK, even as he launched a sharp attack on what he called political hypocrisy and double standards in the media. He said the media repeatedly questions the VCK over its political ties, while not putting similar questions to rival leaders. His remarks came amid a political row over his July 7 statement that VCK taking part in a TVK-led Cabinet would not amount to joining that party's alliance. Thirumavalavan has since said his focus is on building a broad anti-BJP front and that political relationships should not be seen only in rigid terms. Read Full Story Addressing party workers at an event in Chennai to induct 500 members from other parties, Thirumavalavan said the media should ask TVK leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay questions as well. "Shouldn't the media ask our Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay: You called them an evil force. The people voted for you to oppose it. Then on what basis did you go to his (DMK chief M K Stalin's) house and receive his greetings," he asked.
He said people were ready to question how the VCK could align with someone it had criticised earlier, but were unwilling to question Vijay. "Why does no one ask Vijay how he can openly seek support from someone who called him a child born of the RSS," Thirumavalavan asked. While TVK downplayed the controversy as the "beauty of democracy", MDMK chief Vaiko, who recently extended support to TVK, mocked Thirumavalavan by saying he deserved a "Nobel Prize" for his stand. Thirumavalavan also said the VCK had played an important role in the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance's performance and that its contribution had been a major factor in the DMK winning 59 seats. "The role of the Chiruthaigal (VCK cadres) in retaining these numbers is immense, but critics refuse to acknowledge it because they cannot digest the political weight given to our party," he said. He added that the party had acted with political decorum and transparency. "We acted out of comradeship and civilised approach, not because we needed permission. Just because a new political position is attained, it does not mean old relationships should be immediately cast aside," he said.
Speaking to reporters in Ariyalur on July 8, the Lok Sabha MP said a united front was needed to counter the BJP's "communal politics", regardless of local ideological differences. "Even if the TVK and DMK hold opposing stances locally, my national perspective is that both parties must be part of the INDIA bloc to defeat the BJP," he said. He also said the VCK's ties with different parties should be seen through a prism of political maturity and healthy democratic relationships rather than hostility. "Why should it be always interpreted that an alliance has broken? Can we not maintain friendships or relationships with others while being in a particular alliance? Why is there such an uncultured form of politics only in Tamil Nadu? In other states, parties allied with the BJP maintain friendly ties with the Congress, and vice versa. Leaders who fight inside Parliament shake hands, sit together for coffee in the lobby, and even embrace in the Central Hall. Why shouldn't that political decency come to Tamil Nadu," he asked. Later, speaking to reporters in Tenkasi on Thursday, Vaiko apologised for making fun of Thirumavalavan's position.
The BriefWire